Photographic-background holder



(No Model.)

A. G. OASWELL. PHOTOGRAPHIG BACKGROUND HOLDER.

No. 482,002. Patented Sept. 6, 1892.

HVVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESSES:

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NITED STATES PATENT .FFIC'E.

ALVIN OROOKER OASI/VELL, OF FITOHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE NASHUA IRON AND BRASS FOUNDRY COMPANY, OF NASHUA, NEW

HAMPSHIRE.

PHOTOGRAPHlC-BACKG ROUND HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 482,002, dated September 6, 1892.

Application filed November 14, 1890. Serial No. 371,395. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALVIN ORooKER Gas- WELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fitchburg, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Photographic-Background Holders; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and t0 the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

I 5 My invention relates to holders for photo,- graphic backgrounds, and has for its object to simplify and cheapen such structures and to render them easier and better in operation and less liable to get out of order.

WVith these objects in View my invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts'hereinafter fully described, and afterward specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in front elevation of a holder made in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the right side thereof.

Fig. 3 is a viewin side elevation of one of the drums or rolls upon which the backgrounds are wound broken out in the middle to shorten the View. Fig. 4 is an end View thereof with the metal end cap removed. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing in side elevation a part 5 of the inside of the right hand upright of the frame, as shown in Fig. 1.

zontal section therethrough on line w a; of

Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a View in side elevation of the right-hand movable roller-support. Fig.

8 is a vertical section therethrough on line y y of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a detail view showing the inside of the bearing-casting at the upper end of the right-hand standard in elevation.

Fig. 10 is a vertical section therethrough on 45 line 2 z of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a View of one of the roller-supporting brackets used on the left-hand standard of the frame. Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the holder,'the middle being broken out and the chain-pulleys and chain being omitted.

Fig. 6 is a hori-j Like numerals of reference mark the same parts wherever they occur in the various figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 and 2 are uprights set upon a suitable base composed of sides 3 4 and cross-beam 5. The uprights may be made of any suitable size and material and are connected at the top by a cross-bar and properly stiffened by braces 6.

In the inside of each of the standards is a vertically-extending groove, that in the lefthand standard 1 being rectangular in section and uninterrupted from top to bottom. The upright groove 7 in the right-hand standard 2 is also rectangular in cross-section and has extending backward from it at proper intervals cross or horizontal grooves 8, reaching to the rear side of the standard.

Brackets 9, provided with notches 10 11, are secured to the inside of the standards, so as to project in the rear thereof, as plainly shown in Fig. 5, the horizontal portions 10 of their notches forming continuations in the same horizontal line of the horizontal branch grooves 8 and the parts 11 of said notches extending downward at right angles thereto. Similar brackets 12 are secured in like situations on the inside of the standard 1, the crossgrooves 8 being dispensed with as unnecessary.

On the inside of each standard are secured thin metal plates slightly overlapping the edges of the upright grooves to prevent the sliding roller-supports from slipping out, such plates being shown as applied to the righthand standard at 13 and 14 in Fig. 5.

15 is a sliding block which works in these upright grooves. It is provided at its upper end with an extension forming a C-hook open in the rear, as clearly shown at 16 in Fig. 8. The sliding block for the right-hand standard is further provided with a vertical bore 17, in which is inserted a spring 18, upon which rests the lower end of a rod 19, having at its upper end a fork 20, the space within the tines 5 being rectangular.

21 21, &c., are a series of rollers or drums, shown as with their bearings resting in the brackets 9 and 12 in the rear of Fig. 1. These drums are made, preferably, of wood and are I00 hollow, being formed by uniting two semi cylinders by tongue and groove orin any other suitable manner. (See Fig. 4.) After gluing these semi-cylinders together they are placed in a lathe and turned true. The drums are furtherprovided with a metal cap at each end, thaton the leftbeing marked 22,11avingformed as part thereof a round journal 23, and that at the right-hand end 24, having a journal provided with a round portion 25 and angular portion 26. \Vhen the drums 21 are in the positions shown in Fig. 1, their left-hand round journals restin the notches of brackets 12, attached to standard 1, and the square journals rest in the part 11 of the notches in brackets 9, attached to standard 2. The engagement of the square journals with the notches 11 prevents the rollers from turning, and the backgrounds cannot be unwound from them while they are in these positions.

As before stated, the blocks 15 rest in the upright grooves 7 in the standards 1 and 2, with the C-hooks opening rearward. To these hooks 16 are attached cords or cables, that on the left-hand hook being marked 27 and that on the right-hand hook 28. The cord 27 passes up along the standard 1 in line with its groove over a pulley 29 at the top thereof along the top cross-bar to standard 2, passing over in the groove of a pulley 30, set at a right angle to the depth of the standard 2. The cord 28 passes up along standard 2 in front of its groove over a grooved pulley 31, set diagonally to the pulley 30. From these pulleys 30 and 31 both cords pass downward to the groove of a winding-drum 32, pivoted on the outside of standard 2, the cords lying side by side therein, such position being assured by having the pulley 31 project farther outside of standard 2 than does the pulley 30. The pulley 30 is set diagonally to cause the cord passing over it to clear the chain-pulley hereinafter described. The bearings of the pulleys 30 and 31 are in a casting 33, mounted on top of standard 2, which casting also forms the bearing of a stub-shaft34t, on which is mounted a spocket-wheel 35, the drive-chain 36 from which engages another sprocket-wheel 37, also mounted on a stubshaft projecting from standard 2 below at a height to be within easy reach of the operator. The stub-shaft 33 at its inner end is formed into a hub 38, having in its face a radially-extending notch 39, ending a short distance beyond its center. The winding-drum has ratchet-teeth 40 formed on the periphery of its inner flange, and a pawl 41, pivoted to the standard 2, engages these teeth to prevent the drum from turning backward after the cords have been wound upon it by means of a crank 42. The sprocket-wheel 37 is also turned by means of a crank, (marked 43,) and is prevented from slipping backward by a pawl 44, pivoted to standard 2 and engaging its sprocket-teeth. \Vhen no background is in use, the rollers upon which they are wound are in position, as shown in the body of the frame, with their round journals 23 resting in brackets 12, attached to standard 1, and their square journals 26 resting in the upright angular portions 11 of the notches of the brackets 9, attached to standard 2, by which means the roller is prevented from turning and unwinding the background.

It being desired to bring any one of the backgrounds into position for use, the particular roller containing it is lifted until its journals are outof the bottom of thebracket-notches and brought forward until said journals are in the upright notches, care being taken to have the C-hooks 16 of the sliding supporting-rods 15 in proper position, so that the journals of the rollers will pass into them as they are brought forward. The rollers will now be supported in these hooks by the cords 27 and 28, and the square journal will rest in the angular fork 20 of rod 19, the fork beingkept over the journal by the spring 18. In this condition the hooks (and with them the roller) are carried upward by winding the cords on drum 32 until the upper ends of the fork 20 strike against the lower side of the casting 33, their arrangement being such that they will just span a notch 39, which when the stub-shaft 34 is properly turned will register with notch 39 in said shaft. The continued lifting of the hook, roller, &c., will depress the rod 19 and fork 20, and the square journal of the roll will pass into the notch 39 of the stubshaft, the round journals at each end resting in the C-hooks. The limit of upward motion will be reached when the journals of the roller are centered with the stub-shaft33,the bottom of the tines of the fork by striking the upper end of supportingbar 15 preventing the hooks from being raised high enough to squeeze the round journals. The winding being completed and the drum 32 fixed by its pawl, the roller may be turned by turning the sprocket-wheels and stub'shaft 33 until the background has been unwound to its proper position, where it will be maintained by the engagement of the pawl 44 with the teeth of sprocket-Wheel 37. To wind up the background and replace it in its bracket, it is only necessary to reverse these movements.

The advantages of my invention will be obvious upon reading the foregoing description. By its use a photographer can have in a small space at small cost and in such space as to be easy of access and operation a varied assortment of backgrounds. Any one of them, when desired, can be quickly placed in position without hard labor, such as lifting and carrying around, and when in position may be adjusted in height to suit varying circumstances, such as the height of the subject or the number and arrangement of persons or parts of groups. \Vhen the rollers containing the backgrounds are not in use, they are out of the way and held from unwinding. They cannot unwind while being elevated. They cannot be elevated too far, and when elevated they are free to be turned up and down,but cannot be wound and unwound except when in the proper position elevated to the top of the frame.

Having thus fully described the construction and operation of my invention, whatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, isq 1. A photographic-background holder provided with upright standards, a roller bearing or support sliding on each of them, a series of rollers or drums supported at intervals on said standards, and connections between the stationary roller-supports and the sliding sup ports, whereby any roller of the series may be readily transferred from its stationary supports to the sliding supports, as set forth.

2. A photographic-background holder provided with upright standards, a block or hearing for the journal of a roller sliding upon each of said standards, one of which blocks is provided with means for locking the roller against turning while supported in it, a series of rollers or drums supported at intervals on said standards, and connections between the stationary and sliding roller-supports, whereby any roller of the series may be readily transferred from its stationary supports to the sliding supports, as set forth.

3. A photographic-background holder provided with upright standards, a block or bearing for the journal of a roller, sliding upon each of said standards, a series of stationary roller-journal supports on said standards, those of one standard being constructed to prevent the rollers from turning while supported therein, hoisting devices for the sliding supports, and connections whereby any roller may be readily transferred from its stationary support to the sliding support, as set forth.

4. A photographic-background holder provided with upright standards, a block or bearing for the journals of a roller, sliding upon each of said standards, the block of one standard being constructed to prevent the roller from turning while supported therein, a series of stationary roller-journal supports on said standards, those of one standard being constructed to prevent the rollers from turning While supported therein, hoisting devices for the sliding supports, and connections whereby any roller may be readily transferred from its stationary support to the sliding support, as set forth.

5. A photographic-background holder having a pair of upright standards with vertical grooves on their inner faces, a series of rollsupportingbrackets secured to said standards, sliding hooks in said vertical standards, and cross-grooves from the roll-supporting brackets to the vertical groove, whereby any roll of a series may be transferred from its supporting-brackets to the sliding hooks, as set forth.

6. In combination, the upright standards provided with vertical grooves, a series of stationary brackets on the standards for receiving and holding a roll from turning, and sliding supports in the vertical grooves for supporting and preventing the roll from turning while being elevated or lowered, one of the standards having a cross-groove leading from each bracket to the vertical groove, whereby any roll of the series may be transferred from its bracket to the sliding supports, as set forth.

7. In combination, a frame having two upright standards, stationary roller-supporting brackets secured to said standards, journalsupports sliding vertically on said standards, connections between the brackets and the sliding supports, and a stub-shaft mounted at the top of the standards to receive and hold a roller when elevated, as set forth.

8. In combination, the standard 1, having a vertical groove and a series of brackets 12, the standard 2, having vertical and cross grooves and a series of brackets 9, the sliding blocks 15, having hooks 16, the cords 27 and 28, attached to said hooks and passing over suitable pulleys, and the winding-drum to receive said cords, as set forth.

9. In combination, the standards having vertical grooves, and a roller having a round journal at one end and a journal with round and square portions at the other end, the journal-supporting blocks 15, having hooks to receive the round journals and a spring-pressed fork to embrace the square journal, as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In combination, the standards having vertical grooves, a roller having a round j ournal at one end and a journal with round and square portions at the other end, and stationary brackets on the standards, one of which has an angular groove to receive and hold the square journal, the j ournal-supporting blocks 15, having hooks to receive the round journals and a spring-pressed fork to embrace the square journal, as and forthe purpose set forth.

11. In combination, the standards having vertical grooves, a roller having a round j ournal at one end and a journal with round and square portions at the other end, stationary brackets on the standards, one of which has an angular groove to receive and hold the square journal, the j ournal-supporting blocks 15, having hooks to receive the round journals and a spring-pressed fork to embrace the square journal, and a stop to release the square journal from the fork when it is elevated, as set forth.

12. The sliding journal-support herein described, consisting of the block 15, formed with C-hook 16 and central bore 17, spring 18 in said bore, and bar 19, resting on said spring and having angular fork 20, as set forth.

13. The standard 2, having partially-closed vertical groove 7 and cross-grooves 8, in combination with the brackets 9, having open slots whose horizontal portions 10 register with cross-grooves 8 and Whose vertical portions are angular in shape, and a roller having a with slot 7 in the standard, and the stub-shaft square journal fitting and adapted to slide in 34, j onrnaled in said casting and having notch said slots and grooves, as set forth. 39, which may be caused when desired to I 5 14. In combination, the standards with verregister with slots 7 and 39, as and for the 5 tical grooves, the rollers supported therein, purpose set forth.

the cords for elevating them, the pulley 29 on In testimony WhereofIaffiX my signature in standard 1, the pulleys 30 and 31 on standard presence of two witnesses. 2, arranged at an inclination to each other, and the Winding-drnm 32, as set forth. ALVIN LROOKER GASVELL' 1o 15. In combination, the standard 2, having Vitnesses:

vertical slot 7, the casting 33 at the upper end 1 SHIPLEY BRASHEARS, of the standard, having a slot 39 registering SHIPLEY BRASHEARS, Jr. 

